Bates Wins Manager Of The Month

Matthew Bates has been named as the Vanarama National League Manager of the Month for March.

The caretaker boss landed the accolade after collecting 11 points from a possible 18 during the month as Pools put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom four.

Having won only once in the previous 17 games, Bates managed to engineer a run of three successive victories as Pools won away at Barrow and Maidstone United either side of a home triumph over Bromley.

It’s the second time this season that Pools have scooped the Manager of the Month gong after Craig Harrison was named the division’s top boss in October.

“It’s a nice reward for the work we’re all putting in,” Bates explained.

“It’s not just me, it’s for all the staff who work hard day to day and obviously the players because they’re the ones who step on the pitch and get the results that ultimately win the trophy.

“For the lads to go out and do what they did in the month, when you take in to consideration the size of the squad, it was some achievement.

“I kept talking about making small steps and we made a few of those in March and also a couple of bigger steps in terms of the wins so that was great and we need more of the same this month now.”